attractions HISTORIC SAUDI
1 A land of history
As Saudi Arabia embraces modernity, it is acutely aware of the importance of preserving its rich heritage and culture, which can be traced back to antiquity
The land that is now called Saudi Arabia boasts one of the most ancient histories of all countries in the world, traces of which can still be seen in myriad archaeological gems that dot its landscape. For thousands of years it stood at the crossroads of trading routes that transported spices and silk from Asia to the east of the country, on to Africa and the Mediterranean. In the process, it became a conduit of ideas from around the world that helped shape its civilisation and rich culture. Islam’s advent in the seventh
century and its rapid spread to the Atlantic Ocean coast in the west and to as far east as China put the country at the centre of a time and space that would come to be regarded as the Islamic
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Golden Age – an age when religion, culture, science, philosophy and arts all fl ourished as never before. Modern Saudi Arabia came into
being in 1932 under the late King Abdulaziz Al Saud, who united the country and established the third Saudi state. He and his sons who have succeeded him have worked tirelessly to preserve the nation’s traditions, heritage and culture while taking it forward into the 21st
century. Such heritage is cherished in
Saudi and several bodies and institutions have been set up by the government to ensure the cultural legacy of the country is maintained for future generations. The Department of Culture within the Ministry of Culture and Information is the biggest
1 Te city of Al Ola 2 Al Dir’iyah 3 Masmak Fort, Riyadh
of these and it supports a wide range of cultural programmes, such as literary societies, arts and crafts institutes and folklore artists. It also sponsors Saudi nationals in international art and cultural events. Another offi cial body is the
Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), which came into being in March 2003, and is responsible for the upkeep of the many museums and heritage sites throughout the country. The important objectives of heritage conservation are to make people aware of their Saudi identity and to help create employment opportunities in the sector. In an address to the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman
RIAZ MOHAMMAD ABDULLAH
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